Hi everyone, and welcome to chapter one of this collaboration story.

In case you've read the description on our profile you know how it all came to be and if you haven't...well *gives a disappointed glare a la Molly Weasley*...you really should because the story summary, warnings, pairings and other things that might be of interest are written there as well as some fascinating info about yours truly Antonette and Mia so please go and check it out.

For those of you who ignore both ANs and profile info here's a short run down of things.

1. This will be a multi chaptered D/s themed story with Dom!Blaine and sub!Kurt and all the kink warnings that go with that theme although the two of us decided to keep it sweet and light rather than turn it into a BDSM smut fest (that is not to ay there won't be smut *wink wink*)

2. It will be updated every Sunday with an in advance warning if we, for whatever reason, can't make that deadline, but let's hope we can :)

3. We own nothing and neither of us wants to talk about it because it hurts too bad.

Please read, review, let us know how you feel about this.

Love

A&M

"The pillars of society: a complete guide to Dominant and submissive bonding in a modern civilization"
by Dr. Joel Harrington

"The essence of every existing thing is balance.

The electrons and the protons in an atom, the two poles of a magnet, yin and yang, a Dominant and a submissive.

Our world and it's entire structure is based on the concept of the two opposites balancing each other out and creating harmony; an equilibrium.

Nature itself provided us with a tool to balance our very existence; a Dominant and a submissive mentality in a human.

One incomplete, unbalanced, unfinished without the other; without the bond destined to remain half a person.

The bond between Dominants and their submissives is the key link that joins the two very different instincts, mannerisms and behaviors that make them up.

On one hand, there is the Dominant mentality in which you see exhibited traits such as; possessiveness, jealousy and sometimes even a propensity towards anger.

They are authoritative by nature as one might expect, perfectly suited to meeting the needs of a submissive who craves that domineering attention.

Submissives are the opposite of their counterparts and display deferential behaviors.
It is written into their very being, a desire to be dutiful and obedient, a craving for commands in order for them to feel fulfilled and happy.

That's not to imply that the Dominant does not also acquire something from the bond.

A Submissive is a calming presence and as much as they get a sense of purpose out of catering to their Dominant's needs, the Dominant also gains the same in the form of caring for their submissive.

It is a fragile balance and by no means one sided.

Submissives have an inherent desire to feel protected and safe and Dominants are designed for this very task.
While Dominants struggle with more negative, intense forms of emotion such as anger and their submissives provide a calming, soothing presence that dulls the effects considerably.

Physically speaking, there is no difference between a Dominant and a submissive person. There are no physical traits that are characteristic for one or the other.
However there's a way for a Dom to identify a sub and vice versa.
Every Dom has a diamond shaped tattoo on the back of their necks colored in black with a heart shaped, clear space in the middle of it.

Subs, on the other hand, have a heart shaped tattoo on that same space colored in a color that is significant for the sub wearing it. The color can appear at any given time and is susceptible to change under events of great significance to the sub. However once the sub bonds the color remains the same forever.

When the bond between the Dom and the sub is sealed and consummated, the clear space in the Dom's mark gets filled with the color of his Sub's mark, while the subs heart gets a black outline, indicating the connection between them and the completion they brought to each other.

The mark is more often than not the most sensitive and intimate place on their skins and an erogenous zone.

It is considered a taboo, touching somebody's mark without their consent.

An indiscretion of one of the pair will change the look of their mark in various ways; dulling the color, causing white or black spots on the marks, or complete discoloration of the skin on that part (see the chapter on twisted and companion bonds)."

Chapter 1: Balance-the Dominant and submissive
mind (pg 3-25)

"As much as it is written into the very core of every human, a bond between two people does not happen by accident.

The Dominants are usually the ones to make a choice of whom they're going to bond with, because their unique set of abilities allow them to feel the pheromones of a submissive that would suit them the best.
After that first contact the Dominant stakes a claim on the submissive using one of the predefined claiming statements.

The claiming statements considered legal are as following, in order of formality from the least formal to the ones used by the highest members of society:

1. He/she is mine.

2. I want him/her.

3. I (name of the Dominant) claim him/her.

4. I (name of the Dominant) chose (name of the submissive) to bond with.

Using one of the above mentioned statements in front of the submissive and at least one other person that assumes the role of a witness, completes the first out of 7 steps of formal bonding called "Staking a claim".

After the first step is completed the Dom is obligated to prove his ability to care for their chosen sub by, poetically speaking, granting the sub one wish.

The sub is allowed to ask for anything, be it a material gift (money, jewellery, real estate etc.), an emotional one (for example for a Dom to reveal some of his weaknesses or fears which would make him vulnerable), or a so called hypothetical one which implies a promise of something in the future (the sub can ask for their Dom to promise that they will move to another country at some point in their lives or something similar).

If the Dom manages to fulfil the subs request the second step of forming a bond, 'Gifting' is considered complete and the two of them are, from this point onward, required to live together in order to complete the rest of the steps.

Cohabitation is the step that formally begins the moment the Dom and the sub either move in together in their permanent home or chose a place where they will be comfortable and focused solely on each other without the presence of an outside distraction.
It should also be noted that subs always move in with their Dom's and not the other way around as it goes against a Dom's very nature to provide for their sub.

This step is created in order to allow both parties to get to know one another and to develop closeness in a way that simulates what it would be like living with one another for the rest of their lives. It is essential at this point to know whether the Dom and sub are compatible and such close quarters provide the opportunity perfectly.
Cohabitation in itself does not have an official duration or the criteria by which an outside party can deem it complete. Only the Dom and the sub can determine whether they are ready to move on to the next step while the purpose of the third step can be extended and improved for the rest of their lives.

One of the most vital steps is aptly named 'Bonding'. Cohabitating is the ideal environment for a Dominant and submissive to begin forming their bond and this step makes and breaks many a bond. Bonding is all about getting to know and feeling comfortable with the chosen partner mentally, emotionally and even physically in the form of handholding, hugs and even kissing though often never beyond (See Sealing the Bond).
If a deeper bond than the initial attraction between Dom and sub doesn't form then it is usually realised and broken off at this point, however if it does then the next step can be achieved.

Again there is no time limit to when this step is to be finished and rests solely on the individuals involved to determine the speed of things. It is ill advised to rush this step because it marks the foundations of the bond.

The Presenting Ceremony is a formal social event during which a young Dom presents his sub to the society.
By doing this the Dominant party is publically announcing the completion of the previous steps as well as the seriousness of the initial claim.
The submissive gets a chance to meet the Dom's extended family and friends as well as get to know the Dom's workplace in order to garner a complete image of their Dom's life. This is important for a submissive particularly so they can have a chance to determine that they are doing everything that's in their power to assure their Dom has everything he or she needs.

The night of the Presenting Ceremony is also the night where the two parties seal the bond by participating in a sexual relation of whatever kind the couple deems appropriate.
Penetration is mandatory for 'Sealing the Bond' and finishing the claiming but every other aspect is left to their own discretion.

After completing the sixth step the bond is legally and emotionally completed and the parties involved start living their lives as a bonded couple.

However their emotional bond is not everlasting until the last step is fulfilled and in some cases it can take years, or decades, and some couples never get to that stage.

Subspace is one of the most intimate, personal experiences for a Dominant and submissive couple and is the very last on the list of steps. Though never the same experience for every submissive, essentially the rules and guidelines are universal, the most important being safety. It is paramount that a Dom realises that in affect once a sub reaches that higher place they are rendered helpless, offering up control and themselves completely. Natural subspace requires a level of trust which is unparalleled and this is why it is so difficult for Dominant and submissive couples to reach that elusive seventh step however coveted."

Chapter 4: Permanent Bonding (pg 160-200)

„After completing the above mentioned steps both parties are required to make an appointment with the Registration Services in order to make their bond legal.

The process or registration involves and brief checkup preformed by trained personnel (Validators) to ensure every step of the bonding was completed with consent of both sides, that the steps were completed in the precise order and that both the Dom and the sub are physically, mentally and emotionally unharmed after the process.

If all of the above mentioned conditions are met, the Dom and the sub are required to leave their signatures, fingerprints, and a blood sample confirming their Dominant and submissive genetic markers, sealed in a safety deposit box in the vault of the Registration Services Centre, thus making their bond valid, permanent and unbreakable in the eyes of the law and society.

In order to even approach to proccess of Bonding both the Dom and the sub need to be of age (in this case at least 16 years old) and consensual."

Chapter 9: Legal procedure (pg 315)

"There are however some instances where bonds go wrong and are referred to as Twisted.

Usually this is because the steps above were not followed appropriately. For example if a physical penetrative relationship was pursued right from the start of a claim or if subspace was forced upon a sub without them reaching it naturally (See Subspace pg. 156).
Claiming bonds grow in trust and understanding and it is a Dom's duty to ensure they respect their sub enough to wait for the bond to form on both sides.

Twisted Bonds hardly ever affect a Dominant. They do however strongly affect a sub. Submissives rely more heavily on the bond than their Dominant counterparts so when it isn't formed correctly there are many negative side effects. Some include; depression, anxiety, trust issues, avoidance to touch, fear of other Dominants. However because the bond the Dom and sub was involved in didn't manifest properly there is still a chance for a successful, permanent bond to be acquired.
One of the visible signs of a sub that was claimed this way is a mark stained with black spots. It is a consequence that leaves these subs an open target for Doms who are keen on exploiting their vulnerability.
Only a bond with a true Dom who loves them unconditionally will cause the color to clear out and stay bright.

Unlike the Twisted bonds that are constructed upon the idea that one subject in the bond (more often the Dominant one) has the exclusive power to decide the progression of the bonding, leaving the other side emotionally wounded and unprepared, the Companion bonds exist with the sole purpose of balancing a person and providing a healthy, stable environment.

Companion Bonds are different from Permanent Bonds. Whereas a Dom and a sub will only ever have one permanent bond in their lifetime, it is possible in the event of a death of a bond partner to be able to engage in a companion bond. Not as intense or strong as the original bond it does give a Dom or a sub what the other needs in the form of satisfying instinct and giving friendship or affection.
The marks of people whose bonded pair passed away turns light gray, staying only as a reminder of the bond they used to share, and does not change after engaging in a Companion bond.

Twisted bonds are usually recognized in the process of registration and the affected party is removed from that environment as soon as possible in order to provide as much opportunity to recover as they require.

Companion bonds are not required to register and more often than not only complete the steps of bonding that suite both parties involved without severing the bond."

Chapter 11: Other forms of bonding: Twisted and Companion
bonds (pg 316-347)

We hope you have enjoyed that and we'll see you next Sunday :*